Method and system of over-the-air activation and modification of a mobile phone

ABSTRACT

A system and method for over the air activation is provided wherein on activation of a mobile phone, a user is provided with a home page accessible via a computer or the mobile phone. If the home page is accessed via the Internet an image of the mobile phone is displayed and when changes are made to the home page, these changes are observed in such image. Changes to the home page made either via the computer or the mobile phone are observed when viewing the home page with the other access means.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/372,731 filed on Apr. 16, 2002 by Payne, and the entiredisclosure of such provisional application is expressly incorporatedherein by reference.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure as it appears in the public Patent Office fileor records but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to systems and methods for activating andcustomizing mobile phones purchased by users, and more particularlysystems and methods for users to activate a mobile phone over the air,and customize the mobile phone using the Internet.

2. Background

The wireless industry has two fundamental problems: The first is thatinitial set-up and configuration of current and next generation mobilephones are both frustrating for the user and costly for the serviceprovider. The second is that the Internet accessed via a mobile phone(the “Mobile Internet”) can be a confusing and unrewarding experiencefor users, particularly given the limited inputs for navigating theInternet found on a mobile phone. As a result, service providers havenot generated significant revenues because adoption of Mobile Internetapplications have been slow.

When new users purchase a cellular phone they typically have to gothrough a cumbersome activation process to activate the mobile phone foruse. Such a process usually involves interaction with individualsworking for the service provider and frequently results in errors anddelays. A reason the process is complicated is the large number ofoptions available to the user (e.g. the number of minutes, voice mail,messaging, internet access, etc.)

Another difficulty with mobile phones is that while their capabilitieshave increased, such as the ability to display images and music,particularly with respect to 3G capable phones, mobile phones aredifficult to program because of the small screen and the lack of inputs(often a 12 button keypad with three or four other buttons), whencompared to a computer with a larger screen and a fill keyboard.

Related art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,341,316 and 6,421,717, both toKloba et al. The Kloba et al. patents disclose a system of enabling webcontent to be loaded on mobile devices, and for users of mobile devicesto operate with such web content on their mobile devices in aninteractive manner while in an off-line mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of activating a mobile phone is provided comprising collectinginformation associated with the mobile phone and a user associated withthe mobile phone; based on said information preparing a home page forsaid user accessible by a computing device or by the mobile phone; andsending a message to said mobile phone providing an address of said homepage.

A method of revising a home page by using a computer, the home pagedisplaying an image of an associated mobile phone, is providedcomprising: said computer enabled for the selection of media to displayon said home page; and when said media is selected, said image changesto preview said selected media on said associated mobile phone.

A system for a user to modify a home page associated with a mobile phoneis provided, comprising: a plurality of selectable media at said homepage, wherein at least a media is selectable; an image of said mobilephone presentable at said home page; and wherein when said media isselected said image of said mobile phone previews said image on saidmobile phone.

A system and method for over the air activation is provided wherein onactivation of a mobile phone, a user is provided with a home pageaccessible via a computer or the mobile phone. If the home page isaccessed via the Internet an image of the mobile phone is displayed andwhen changes are made to the home page, these changes are observed insuch image. Changes to the home page made either via the computer or themobile phone are observed when viewing the home page with the otheraccess means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing description of the invention when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the high level architecture of asystem according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the architecture of a server according tothe invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention;

FIG. 4 block diagram of the processes whereby a user intializes themobile phone and accesses the server;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the data associated with a mobilephone;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the settings associated with a mobilephone;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the content associated with a mobilephone;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the high level architecture of aserver according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing mobile phones connecting to the servervia the ODBC layer;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing mobile phones connecting to theserver via the OTA layer;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the system used in an activationprocess; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the user of a mobile phoneinteracting with the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Terminology

In this document, the following terms will have the following meanings:

-   “ANI” means Automatic Number Identification;-   “API” means Application Program Interface”;-   “CID” means Caller Identification;-   “CHTML” means Compact Hyper Text Markup Langauge;-   “DNS” means Domain Name Server;-   “GPRS” means “General Packet Radio Service”;-   “GUI” means “Graphical User Interface”;-   “home page” means a web page accessible via a user's mobile phone or    a computer with access to the Internet. For example, a home page may    be written in both HTML and WML.-   “HTML” means Hyper Text Markup Language;-   “HTTP” means Hyper Text Transfer Protocol;-   “ISP” means Internet Service Provider;-   “mobile phone” means a portable wireless device capable of voice    communications and-   interpreting WML, for example a 3G cellular phone;-   “user” means the operator of a mobile phone, typically (but not    necessarily) the purchaser of the mobile phone;-   “MMS” means Multimedia Message Service;-   “MMSC” means Multimedia Message Service Center;-   “ODBC” means Open Database Connectivity;-   “OS” means Operating System;-   “OTA” means Over The Air;-   “PDA” means Personal Digital Assistant;-   “PIM” means Personal Information Manager;-   “SMS” means Short Message Service;-   “SMSC” means Short Message Service Center;-   “SQL” means Structured Query Language;-   “SSL” means Secure Socket Layer;-   “UAPROF” means User Agent Profiling;-   “URL” means Uniform Resource Locator;-   “WAP” means Wireless Access Protocol;-   “WML” means Wireless Markup Language; and-   “XML” means Extensible Markup Language.    Introduction

The system according to the invention allows users of mobile phones topersonalize and customize their mobile phones to their specifications.The system provides users with a personalized dynamically generatedwebsite with web pages that can be displayed simultaneously both on theInternet and on their mobile phones. Both the wireless web pages andfixed web pages can be modified and personalized either via a computerconnected to the Internet or the mobile phone.

The system uses a combination of servers and applications. The systemallows mobile phone service providers to provide services, configure andreconfigure mobile phones over the air, and allows users to self-managethe services and synchronize their mobile phones with their computer. Anoverview of the system and process are seen in FIGS. 1 through 4.

As seen in FIG. 1, a user with a mobile phone 12 or conventionalcomputer 20 capable of accessing the Internet, can access a suite ofapplications 25 via WAP or WML using the mobile phone 12 or HTTP/HTMLusing the computer 20. The applications 25 may include a serviceconfigurator 30 (which allows users to select services), a MMS Generator35, a Photo Sharing service 40, a “Tribe” or community of users 45, anda Photo Album 50.

With further reference to FIG. 1, the applications 25 are controlled viathe provider platform 60. Included in the platform 60 are theApplication Programmer's Interface 62, which allows programmers torevise applications 25; an OTA Engine 64, used, among other functions,to find a fit for a mobile phone during the activation process amongother functions; an Automatic Device Configurator 70, which determinesthe type of mobile phone, and the type of cellular network, and matchesthose variables to the user's service profile to configure the mobilephone with the appropriate settings; a Media Management system 68, whichdisplays and organizes the media available to the applications 25; aDevice Recognition and Transcoding system 75, which facilitatescommunication and programming with a variety of types of mobile phones;a Media Usage Tracking and Reporting system 77, which allows theprovider to monitor and bill users appropriately; and an Integration andConnectivity Layer 79 to communicate with the servers 90, 92, 94, and 96described below.

Platform 60 is in communication with Content Database 80 and ApplicationData Database 85. Platform 60 is also in communication with Email server90, MMSC server 92, SMSC server 94 and Billing System server 96. Each ofthese servers 90, 92, 94 and 96 can communicate with mobile phone 12 viaSMS, WAP, OTA or push protocols.

From another perspective, as seen in FIG. 2, the server architecture isdesigned to provide a seamless experience for a user. The Content Layer100 provides content and media for the mobile phones 12. The ApplicationLayer 110 is accessed via a Web Interface 115 using a mobile phone 12 orcomputer 20; and OTA Engine 64 provides OTA functions, including usersettings, permissions, and synchronization.

FIG. 3 shows an overview of the system according to the inventionproviding for synchronization of mobile phone 12 and computer 20 asdetailed below. FIG. 4 shows how users access the system, and the mobilephone OTA activation process as detailed below.

The system uses dynamically generated HTML for the Internet componentaccessible via computer 20 and dynamically generated WML and otherwireless components for the wireless environment accessible via mobilephone 12. Traditionally WML for mobile phones has been available only inblack and white as not many mobile phones support color and color PDA'stypically utilize HTML or Compact HTML (“CHTML”). The system accordingto the invention preferably supports color WML for mobile phones.

The system includes several dynamically generated templates, in additionto a personal homepage, for the users' website (both wireless and webbased) that allows customization and personalization. These templatesmay be replicated in the wireless environment and dynamically generatedby request to the micro browser resident in the mobile phone. Thismethod permits users to modify its personal website and instantly havethose changes reflected in its mobile phone or to make changes in themobile phone and to see the updated changes on its personal web basedwebsite.

Over the Air Activation

The system according to the invention allows users to activate theirmobile phone without a complicated process. FIG. 4 shows a high levelrepresentation of the OTA activation process. In step 1, user data isentered by a salesperson, and sent to the service provider. Theinformation collected includes the mobile phone number, the name of theuser, the phone model, billing information and information about theservice provider (if a third party is providing the activation service).This information is stored in the User Profile/Preferences Database anddefault preferences are applied based on either the user data (forexample if the user purchased certain features or the particular phonepurchased has certain limitations) or as set by the service provider.

In step 2, the user activates the mobile phone through the serviceprovider. The service provider then sends a message to the server, whichaccess the user profile and dynamically generates the user's web page. Amessage is then sent to the user letting the user know that the phonehas been activated and the address of their web page.

In step 3, representing subsequent access to the users web page via themobile phone or a computer, modifying the web page by the mobile phoneor the computer will simultaneously alter the view of the user's webpage on the other. For example, if the user accesses his web page via acomputer, the server detects the access means and if changes are made tothe web page, the modified WML web page is sent to the mobile phone.

Automatic configuration

Mobile phones will be automatically setup and configured if they aer notpre-configured when sold. For example, after a sale of a mobile phone toa user, the mobile phone may need to have its' data, WAP and emailsettings configured. As seen in FIG. 4, after the mobile phone isconfigured, a SMS message is sent to the user notifying him or her ofthe completion of the setup process.

This feature can also be used to configure particular settings neededfor new services such as MMS, photo sharing, “tribes”, and other thirdparty content and/or services such as games, premium contact service,etc. For example, photo sharing requires that the mobile phone's ANI/CIDoption is set to “on”, and MMS requires the MMSC server Uniform ResourceLocater (“URL”) as well as other message management settings. If theuser, from their home page determines that they would like to be able tosend MMS messages, they could subscribe to the service from their homepage. The OTA server would then configure the phone as necessary toprovide such a service.

The system offers a “one step configuration” initial setup andconfiguration process for service providers to ease the servicesubscription process. The system uses a combination of OTA, (dynamic)personalized web space generation, WAP Push and SMS technologies toachieve this via an OTA Server and applications. The sequence of eventsin this process is described as follows:

-   -   1. A sales representative of a service provider is approached by        a new user to subscribe to its services.    -   2. The sales rep fills out a HTML form with basic customer        information like name, address, phone number, the mobile phone        type, etc. and sends this information to the OTA server.    -   3. The OTA server stores this information in a user database,        creates an appropriate OTA message to setup and configure the        mobile phone, creates a personalized web space dynamically in        the background, and sends an OTA message. Once the mobile phone        is configured, another WAP push message is send to the user        saying “Your personal home page is ready. Would you like to see        it now? (Yes/No)”.    -   4. By now, the OTA server has configured the mobile phone for        data, email, wap, mms etc.

If the new user accepts the WAP push message, he/she is directed tohis/her newly created personalized web space.

The OTA server used for the OTA process is seen in FIG. 8. It'sproperties are described below:

-   -   OTA Engine: The core of the OTA server is a “smart engine” that        finds a “best-fit” solution recommendation for the requested        functionality. Mobile phones differ in the level of OTA support        and therefore it is not possible to send OTA messages in a        uniform manner. For example, some services offered by a service        provider may only be activated fully over the air for certain        types of mobile phones, and only partly for other types of        mobile phones. Therefore, the OTA Engine matches the requested        activation message to the mobile phone and selects the best-fit        solution.

Every mobile phone has specific attributes and constraints. For example,screen size, color scale, picture formats supported, underlying OS etc.vary from type of phone to type of phone. It is possible to support ahandful of mobile phones by recording all of these attributes andconstraints for every type of mobile phone and matching these attributesand constraints to the requirements for the requested OTA service.However, as the number of mobile phones to be supported and the servicesoffered grows, the problem of finding a solution grows exponentially.

-   XML OTA Specifications: This is where the OTA capabilities of all    the supported mobile phones are specified and stored in XML format.-   OTA Message Translator: This component translates the generic OTA    message request into the specific mobile phone format and encodes    into a compatible binary format.-   Message Queue: All the OTA messages are stored in a highly scalable    and reliable message queue for delivery.-   SMSCs Connector: These components connect to the operator SMSCs via    which the messages in the Message Queue are delivered.-   Application Integration Module: This module is custom made for each    service provider using the OTA server, so that the service    provider's subscriber management system is connected to the OTA    server.-   Administrator GUI: The XML OTA specifications can be edited, added    and deleted using this administration application.-   Applications: These are the suite of applications that use the OTA    API.

The OTA Engine consists of a generic API that can be used to make OTAmessages in the same way regardless of the type of the target mobilephone. The target mobile phone specific OTA messages are created by therespective translators, in a process similar to that of ODBC, where theODBC layer does not change regardless of the target databases, and thereare specific ODBC database drivers for each target database. Forreference see FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 11 shows the functions performed by the OTA server. The actorsusing the OTA server are the operator, e.g. the salesperson at theservice provider's outlet; the suite of applications; and the mobilephone carried by the end user. The data specifications described belowand the data structures shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 are examples of suchthat could be used in implementing a system according to the invention,however, as known in the art other data specification and structurescould be used.

Functions performed with the OTA server include:

-   -   Add New Mobile Phone Specification: The operator adds a new        mobile phone specification which includes information such as        its display, memory etc. The operator is provided with a form to        enter a new mobile phone specification. The operator can update        the main mobile phone database. The new mobile phone record        shall be available to use by other applications.

The data fields for the mobile phone record and the type of field are:Data Field (Column) Type Display length (pixels) Number Display height(pixels) Number Memory (KB) Number MMS capable Boolean Java phoneBoolean Java version String Device constraints String

-   -   Add OTA Settings Info: The operator adds OTA settings        information such as ISP configuration, MMS server url etc.        Operators will need to enter the operator-specific settings for        items such as ISP, WAP gateway, MMS etc. This provides basic        initial setup functionality.

The operator completes a form to enter (or initialize) basicoperator-specific settings. The data for these settings are describedbelow. The user stores this data in an OTA server database. Allapplications generating OTA messages will use this data for the settingsand configuration of the appropriate mobile phones.

The Data fields, type and interaction are as described below: Data Field(Column) Type Interaction Data APN Char( ) Data DNS Char( ) WAP GatewayIP Address Char( ) Data entry WAP Username Char( ) Data entry WAPPassword Char( ) Data entry Email Incoming Server Email Outgoing ServerEmail Incoming Port Email Outgoing Port Char( )

The MMS Server settings include: Data Field (Column) Type InteractionMMSC Server URL Char( )

-   -   Configure Device Settings: The operator configures settings of a        user's mobile phone. Users need to be able to configure and        set-up their mobile phone and connect to the mobile Internet via        the operator's network. This includes setting certain parameters        on the device such as WAP gateway settings, IP address, data        communication accounts and preferences, connection type, user        idenitification, password, and DNS settings. This initial set-up        and configuration of current and next generation mobile phones        is a task that is both frustrating for the user and costly for        the operator. An over the air configuration (OTA) technology        will configure the mobile phone settings in a single keystroke.

Before this can be done, the operator must have configured settings forthe user using the configuration settings parameters and sending arequest to the OTA server. The operator is informed whether the requesthas been completed successfully or not. The OTA server prepares an OTAmessage with the configuration parameters and pushes it to the user'smobile phone. The personalized homepage for the user is dynamicallygenerated in the background and the user is notified with a SMS when theconfiguration is complete. The message should say “Your personal homepage is ready. Would you like to see it now? (Yes/No)”. If the useranswers “Yes”, he/she shall be taken to his/her personal home page.

When complete, all session status and information will have been storedto the system and the mobile phone of the user will have beenconfigured.

-   -   Create My Homepage: The OTA server creates a personalized        homepage for the user. Once the operator sends a request to        configure a mobile phone, a generic homepage with some        personalization is created in the background. This gives the        user instant access to various applications and resources soon        after the mobile phone is configured. Thus, in a short period of        time, the mobile phone of the user is set-up with, for example,        internet and email settings, and the user is ready to be taken        to its homepage.

The system starts this process by requesting configuration settings fora new user. The system dynamically generates (in the background) a homepage for the new user. The home page title is preferably personalizedwith the name of the user. The home page should have a list of picturesthat the user can select for the mobile phone, defaulted to a genericpicture. The home page should have a list of applications available forthe user to select for the mobile phone, with some already selected bydefault. The home page will have a link to the service providerhomepage, including access to web pages with applications and content.

The fields used by the server to complete this process include: DataField (Column) Type Interaction Homepage Title Char( ) Use the user'sname as default Homepage Picture Char( ) Use a default from a genericlist Applications Array of Default a number of applications Char( ) froma from a generic list Mobile Phone Image Char( ) Use a default from alist of supported devices

-   -   Push OTA Message: Pushes an OTA message via SMS channel to a        mobile phone. The OTA server is integrated with an operator        SMS-C to send OTA prepared OTA messages via a SMS control        channel. The OTA server is integrated with an operator's SMS-C.        The user shall have a way of sending a prepared OTA message to a        mobile phone using the integrated SMS-C.    -   Prepare Bookmark OTA: Prepares a bookmark OTA message for a        mobile phone.    -   Prepare Contact Information OTA: Prepares a PIM information OTA        message, including picture and ringtone.    -   Prepare a Ringtone OTA: Prepares an OTA message to send a        ringtone to a mobile phone.    -   Prepare a Picture OTA: Prepares an OTA message to send a picture        to a mobile phone.    -   Associate CID with a Picture: Prepares an OTA message to        associate a picture to a CID.    -   Associate CID with a Ringtone: Prepares an OTA message to        associate a ringtone to a CID.    -   Manage Contact Group: Prepares an OTA message to manage contacts        in a group or list.

FIGS. 5 through 7 indicate representative data structures that can beused to implement the OTA server functions and the services describedbelow. As known in the art, other data structures may be equallyapplicable.

Real-time Web to Wireless Device Synchronization

The OTA server and applications allows for the desktop to mobile phonesynchronization via the Internet using standard HTTP protocol as shownin FIG. 3. This does not require any additional software on the user'scomputer, and does not require any physical connection between themobile phone and the computer.

Users can update and synchronise personal information like contacts, andgroups can be synchronized using HTTP. Any changes made to thepersonalized applications and content are immediately reflected in themobile phone. If the personal web page is accessed, the user may opt toview an image of the mobile phone in the web page. When changes are madeto the home page, for example by selecting a new image as a backgroundfor the mobile phone, the change will be reflected immediately on themobile phone, and on the image of the mobile phone that can be viewed atthe web page. This allows users to experiment even if the mobile phoneis not present.

An important aspect of the system is that it is permission based. Forexample, a typical photo sharing scenario takes place as follows:

-   -   1. Mary sends her friend Jane a photo sharing contact.    -   2. Jane is alerted of the incoming contact from Mary and asked        to accept or decline.    -   3. If accepted, Jane's contact information in the mobile phone        and in the web space is updated by the OTA and application        server.        This allows users to prevent unwanted or unnecessary information        to be downloaded in the mobile phone.        Services

The services described below can be accessed via the mobile phone or acomputer.

Once a user is set-up and configured, the user's personalized web spacewill include services that are available but not yet subscribed. Theoperator will be able to control which services appear in this space.The user can then sign up for these services by selecting them at theuser's web page. An example of such user initiated service request is asfollows:

-   -   1. A user selects an available but not yet subscribed service        that is listed in the user's home page.    -   2. The service provider may require the user's mobile phone        configuration and or web space configuration. This is handled by        the OTA server and the applications.    -   3. The OTA server will generate the appropriate OTA message for        the set-up and configuration of the requested service. For        example, if it is MMS service, the mobile phone's WAP push        settings must be turned on and MMS URL setting in the phone must        be populated with the operator's MMS-C address.

Users can manage their multi media applications on the mobile phone suchas photos, ringtones, slideshows etc. using the computer. However, themobile phone can also be used to create and save new wireless media suchas screensavers, wallpapers, fonts, etc. This feature allows the webdesktop and the mobile phone to synchronize the media, that is,downloads and uploads are possible via both.

Applications such as “tribes” (i.e a community of users who receivemessages, etc.) and photo sharing, require both photos and ringtones tobe delivered to multiple mobile phones. This needs to be permissionbased, that is, the recipient can choose to accept or reject any requestto save new media into its mobile phone. These media are delivered via aMMS server and email server. A SMS server is used to send SMS messagesfor user authentication and acknowledgement.

Other features include media transaction tracking and reporting, whichallows service providers to track transactions and report on allactivity for each media file, user, account or customer. This data canbe used for detailed billing information by an operator's billingsystem, and device recognition and transcoding, which is used forintelligent device recognition (using the UAPROF standard), and deliveryof multi media messages using optimized encodings for a mobile phone.That is, transformations and conversions are carried out based on themobile phone type, network type (MMS, SMS, WAP etc) and network (GSM,CDMA, GPRS etc).

Options available for a user, as seen in FIG. 12 include:

-   -   Login to My Home page: The user presents its credentials to        access its home page. This occurs when the user accesses the        personalized home page via a landline fixed Internet terminal.        The system needs to uniquely identify the user before presenting        its personal home page. When the user's home page is accessed        via the user's mobile phone, this process is not necessary as        the unique user identity can be implicitly determined (using the        CID).

The user begins by going to the appropriate web site where it ispresented with a login page. The user enters its credentials. If theuser forgets the password, a reminder system may be used. If thecredentials do not exist, the user is denied access. If the login issuccessful, the user is presented with his/her home page.

Data Specification MO_1_x Login Data The user shall be asked to supplyhis/her credentials using the data as specified hereby. Data Field(Column) Type Interaction Tel. Number Char( ), in “(000) 000-0000”. Dataentry Password Char( ) Data entry

-   -   View/Edit My Home page: The user can views/edits its        personalized home page that was created dynamically during the        initial configuration and setup of the mobile phone. The user        enters this process after successfully logging in or accessing        the home page via the mobile phone. From the home page, the user        can use the Applications and Content. There should be links from        the user's home page to the service provider's web site. In a        preferred embodiment the user can enter the title for the home        page as freeform text.

The user can select the image of a mobile phone from a list of supportedmobile phones and can select a picture from a list of images. Thispicture appears in the homepage and is used to preview images on themobile phone. The user can also select applications to access from themobile phone from a list of available applications.

The user can also view its WML homepage. From the WML homepage, the usercan invoke Applications, access Content and access the service providerweb site.

-   -   Manage Photo Album: The user adds photos, edits labels, and        manages the photo album. The user can view or edit the homepage        that was created dynamically during the initial configuration        and set-up of the mobile phone. The user can organize photos in        folders (or albums) that are two levels deep; can add, remove        and rename photo albums; can display photos (image); and can        select photos and rearrange the sequence of photos in an album        (e.g. by dragging and dropping).    -   The user can also select a photo (in JPEG and GIF format) from a        local disk and add to a selected album, and can remove a photo        from an album, label a photo in an album, and mark an album to        be public so that it can be viewed by other users.    -   The user will be able to preview a selected photo on the mobile        phone image and can create, view, and organize slideshows of        photos. Slideshows are a sequence of pictures that can be        selected from different albums.    -   Generate MMS: The user picks and chooses items to generate a MMS        message. The user can create MMS messages using photos, a        ringtone, and a text message for each photo. MMS messages are        generated using SMIL markup language. The user will be able to        preview animated MMS messages in a mobile phone image, similar        to photo preview in photo album and can save MMS messages in        binary encoded format ready to be sent.    -   Manage Photo Net Contacts: The user adds, deletes, and updates        photo sharing contacts.    -   Manage Community: The user can add, delete, and update community        (“Tribe”) members. Alternatively a single person may have the        ability to do this for a particular tribe (e.g., and        administrator).    -   Chat with a Community Member: The user chats with another        community member using the mobile phone (by placing a phone        call) or the computer.    -   Send SMS: The user sends a SMS message. The message can be sent        to an individual or a plurality of individuals (e.g. all        community members).    -   Send Email: The user sends an email message.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in theillustrated embodiments, it will be immediately obvious to those skilledin the art that many modifications may be made of structure,arrangements, and algorithms used in the practice of the invention, andotherwise, which are particularly adapted for specific environments andoperational requirements, without departing from those principles. Theclaims are therefore intended to cover and embrace such modificationswithin the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A method of activating a mobile phone comprising: collectinginformation associated with the mobile phone and a user associated withthe mobile phone; based on said information preparing a home page forsaid user accessible by a computing device or by the mobile phone;sending a message to said mobile phone providing an address of said homepage.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said information includes defaultinformation selected by a service provider associated with the mobilephone.
 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising: configuring saidphone based on said information.
 4. A method of revising a home page byusing a computer, the home page displaying an image of an associatedmobile phone, comprising: said computer enabled for the selection ofmedia to display on said home page; when said media is selected, saidimage changes to preview said selected media on said associated mobilephone.
 5. A system for a user to modify a home page associated with amobile phone, comprising: a plurality of selectable media at said homepage; an image of said mobile phone presentable at said home page;wherein when said media is selected said image of said mobile phonepreviews said image on said mobile phone.
 6. The system of claim 5wherein said home page is viewable via a computer or by a mobile phone.